Slichot - Babette Marciano

Selichot or slichot are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays. In the Sephardic tradition, recital of Selichot in preparation for the High Holidays begins on the second day of the Hebrew month of Elul. In the Ashkenazic tradition, it begins on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah. 

During the month of Elul, leading up to the High Holidays, the shofar is blown after morning services for the entire month. 

Babette Marciano, artist and educator in New York City, has recently been exploring her roots as a Moroccan Jew.  The image you are viewing is part of her new collection based on Moroccan Jewry, exploring themes and ideas based around this vastly underexposed culture.  When the subject of world Jewry of the mid-twenty century arises, mostly what is discussed is European and Eastern European Jews.  In America, there is much less emphasis on North African or Sephardic Jewry. Marciano is using historical timelines to narrate her series; there by, exploring various ideas based on this Sefardic culture.

Image by Babette Marciano. All Rights Reserved.